Kuwait announced it has granted Iraq 17 electric power generators with a total capacity of 30,000 kilowatts to support the electric sector amid the recent protests in southern districts, mainly al-Basra on the borders with Kuwait.
The Iraqi government is relying on Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for supporting it during these times, as it announced its intention to send a technical team to the Kingdom to discuss Iraq’s needs.
The Kuwaiti move mainly aims at alleviating the electricity shortage in Basra, in light of the critical circumstances in Iraq, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity and Water Mohammed Bushehri said.
Bushehri announced that Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah ordered the Ministry of Electricity to send support to Iraq and thus the ministry donated the 17 generators.
Earlier, the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity said that the State of Kuwait would provide fuel to out-of-service power stations in Iraq, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.
The Iraqi ministry issued a statement saying that under the directions of the Emir, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Oil will start supplying the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity with fuel to operate the suspended generating units and support the working units.
The statement explained that a Kuwaiti tanker loaded with 30 thousand cubic meters of kerosene fuel will arrive on Saturday to the ports of Basra, adding that other oil shipments will arrive periodically over the coming days.
Sheikh Sabah told Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi that Kuwait was ready to assist its neighbor to overcome the current turmoil, emphasizing that stability in Baghdad is among Kuwait's chief concerns.